5 Ideas for Clever Wine Storage

We’ve seen pictures of them: extravagant wine cellars that take up entire rooms, filled to the brim with every vintage imaginable. While that would be an incredible in-home luxury for us wine drinkers, most of us simply don’t have the space or budget to make it happen. That being said, we need to get a little clever about how we store our wine collections. If you’re feeling like you could use some help, take a look at the following photos for inspiration. We may not have entire rooms, but with a little know-how, we can still create the right storage.

A Library Card Catalog

Clever solutions require thinking outside the box, which is surely how someone landed on using a card catalog for wine storage. It’s quirky, original and functional, and you can easily place a label on the face of each drawer to indicate the type of wine to be found inside. I don’t know about you, but I’d be happily surprised to find a wine bottle instead of dusty cards when I opened one of these drawers.

A Riddling Rack

Want wine storage that’s effective and doubles as a cool sculptural piece? Begin the hunt for a riddling rack. It doesn’t need to cost a bundle: You might get lucky and find one at a flea market or antiques shop if you keep your eyes peeled. Once you find it, you can prop it up, hang it on the wall or do with it whatever you choose. As long as the wine is securely stored, of course.

The Wall

Sure, you’ve utilized your walls for artwork and knickknacks and other things of aesthetic value. But what about creating a functional niche for wine storage? If you’re unsure which walls have the ability to make this transition, talk to a carpenter. He or she can tell you which walls are well suited and then help you with construction.

The Kitchen Island

Islands are not only an extra surface for meal preparation, they’re also extremely handy for storage. Is there any way you could transform a spot on yours into wine storage? Perhaps there’s cabinetry that can be torn out and replaced with a rack. Or maybe there’s a space for the garbage that would better function as a home for wine. Look at your island from a wine enthusiast point of view.

Beneath the Stairs

This spot can be a challenge for some storage because of the slant, but for wine it’s perfect. Take advantage of the space by building racks lengthwise. You’ll be surprised by how much you can fit. Plus, it adds an interesting visual element to a space.